Thursday August 13, 2009 – Riverland Weekly • 21
Berri Barmera Local Action Planning Committee Update Environmental water allocations brings life to drying areas
Wetland refill progress AS mentioned in our last feature, wetlands at Spectacle Lakes and the Mussel Lagoon Complex (Loveday Wetlands) received an environmental water allocation and have been refilled. In early June, we also received an allocation from the Commonwealth Environment Waterholder of 500ML to pump into Overland Corner. These projects have all been facilitated by the River Murray Environmental Management unit within the SA MDB NRM Board and have received strong support from community groups at each of these wetlands. We have already seen a positive response to the filling of these wetlands through an increase in aquatic bird life and a large number of frogs have been heard. Lignum is starting to flower in many areas and over the next few months, we expect to see regeneration of river red gums in all of these areas. Monitoring will continue at all of the managed wetlands within the BBLAP area and members of the community are more than welcome to attend and become involved.
■ DRINK: River red gums and lignum receiving an overdue drink at Overland Corner.
ADVERTISING FEATURE
Caring for our country IN conjunction with the Loxton to Bookpurnong LAP Committee, we were recently successful in obtaining $66,450 from the Commonwealth Government’s Caring for our Country program. Combined with in-kind support from the South Australian Murray Darling Basin Natural Resources Management Board, this $100,000 project will focus on targeting invasive pest plant and animal species around the Katarapko wetland complex and adjacent properties. It is expected that this project will support and enhance many of the activities being undertaken by the Katfish Reach project.
Katfish Reach project
■ REFILL: Water being pumped into the Overland Corner Wetland.
■ BIRD’S EYE: An aerial photo of Overland Corner after pumping was completed
■ LOVEDAY: Aerial photo of Loveday Wetland Complex during the refill of the wetland.
Wetland bus tour THE Berri Barmera LAP Committee is planning to run a bus tour to various wetlands and the new structure at Lake Bonney, probably one Sunday in September. This will be a free event and we welcome any interested community members to come along and learn a bit more about our natural wetlands. Please contact Paul Stribley on 8582 2183 or paul@bblap.org.au to register your interest. Further details can then be provided directly to you later this month.
Supported by the Australian Government’s Caring for our Country and the South Australian Murray Darling Basin NRM Board.
THE Katfish Reach Project is located on the Katarapko/Eckert Creek anabranch system between Berri and Loxton along the River Murray in South Australia. The area hosts the River Murray National Park, Katarapko, Gerard Aboriginal Reserve as well as crown and private land. The total area is nearly 9000 hectares and traverses over 38 kilometres of River Murray frontage. The site is a South Australian River Murray priority floodplain. The project is a demonstration reach for native fish under the Native Fish Strategy of the Murray-Darling Basin Authority. It is the only demonstration reach along the River Murray in South Australia. The Katfish Reach Steering Group has developed an implementation plan which identifies 17 key threats across nine project site assets. The vision for the Katfish Reach project is: “a healthier and more productive aquatic and floodplain ecosystem that everyone can enjoy”. A number of actions have been proposed to curb the rapid and widespread ecological decline currently being experienced throughout the Katfish Reach floodplain. To promote community understanding as to the proposed on-ground actions, a number of information signs will be erected adjacent to and throughout the project site at locations of proposed works.
Your Berri Barmera LAP Committee
■ WETLAND BUS TOUR: Community members enjoying a day out on a previous BBLAP tour.
THE BBLAP Committee is made up of community members who have an active interest in the local environment. Committee members are elected for terms of two years and there is no limit on the number of terms that can be served. Members are elected to represent the broader community on issues relating to environmental and land management. New members are always welcome. To find out more, please contact Paul Stribley on 8582 2183 or paul@bblap.org.au In future editions we will run a series of profiles on the committee members. The current committee members are: Jayme Peltz – co-chair; Gill Beeson – co-chair; Barry Porter – deputy chair; Bob Clark; Brenton Fenwick; Max Kubenk; Lisa Stribley; Tony Whateley; Lloyd Wright.
e h t h it w g in k r o W e h t t r o p p u s o t y communit t n e m n o ir v n e l a c lo